learyd
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
DENNIS E. LEARY is at the present
time the popular and efficient host of the Hotel Coulee, situated at Coulee
City. He is possessed of the noted wit characteristic of his race
and also shows marked originality, thus being a very entertaining host,
while also, he manifests excellent care for the comfort of his guests.
He is genial, well liked, a good business man and the recipient of a fine
patronage.
Dennis E. Leary was born in Huntington county,
Canada, on March 12, 1858. His father, Dennis Leary, was a native
of Ireland and a pioneer to Canada, where he married Miss Margaret Smith,
a native of that country. The public schools of Huntington county
contributed to the education of our subject until he was seventeen, when
he journeyed west to Nevada and there in Carson and Virginia City did general
work and continued in night school for some time. After this he went
to mining exclusively and for seventeen years worked in the various leading
mines on the Pacific coast. He met with some reverses, but altogether
did very well and had collected a very nice property when he came to Douglas
county. Mr. Leary at once embarked in the stock business here and
in 1890 lost almost his entire herd, thereby losing the money he had made
for years previous. He was not discouraged, however, and continued
in the cattle business and is occupied in the same at the present time,
having made since 1890 a good success. In 1898, Mr. Leary opened
a hotel at Coulee City and since that time has made it one of the most
popular and entertaining places to be found in the Big Bend country . Every
one is glad to have the opportunity of spending a day or two with Mr. Leary
and his unfeigned hospitality and kindness win for him friends from every
rank. In addition to the above property named, Mr. Leary has a farm
which is devoted to the cereals, largely. The reason that he changed
his occupation from mining to stock raising, was that continued work in
the lead mines had affected his health and threatened his death, if he
did not get out in the open air more. Mr. Leary has the following
brothers and sisters, Timothy, William, Edward, John, Eliza, Mary, Ellen.
At Park City, Utah, on May 30, 1891, Mr. Leary
married Miss Ella, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (McGillicuddy) Connors,
natives of Ireland. She has three brothers, James, John and Thomas.
At the place of their marriage, on May 2, 1892, to Mr. and Mrs. Leary was
born one child, Hazel Marie. Mr. Leary is a member of the A. O. U.
W. and in religious persuasions, he is an adherent of the Catholic church.
His brother, William, is a very prominent politician in New York state.
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